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Nomad 22 Westerly
Designer: Dennis Rayner  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine Construction Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Nomad 22 Westerly

Designed by Dennis Rayner and built by Westerly Marine Construction between 1967 and 1969, this compact 22-footer represents an early entry into the British production sailboat market that would eventually make Westerly a household name among cruising sailors. With 267 hulls produced during its brief three-year run, the Nomad 22 established many design principles that would influence Westerly's later, more famous models. The boat's most distinctive feature is its twin keel configuration, making it ideal for shallow water cruising and allowing adventurous beaching in tidal areas—a significant advantage for exploring Britain's coastal waters and European canals. At 22.25 feet overall with a displacement of 3,150 pounds, this masthead sloop offers surprising interior volume while maintaining manageable size for a small crew. The moderate sail area of 187 square feet and conservative displacement make this primarily a coastal cruiser rather than a racing machine. The twin keels provide excellent directional stability and reduce draft to just 2.25 feet, though they sacrifice some windward performance compared to fin keel designs. With its fiberglass construction and Westerly's reputation for solid build quality, the Nomad 22 appeals to sailors seeking an affordable, seaworthy pocket cruiser capable of weekend adventures and extended coastal exploration.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 22.25 ft / 6.78 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.33 ft / 5.59 m
Beam 7.42 ft / 2.26 m
Max Draft 2.25 ft / 0.69 m
Displacement 3,150.00 lb / 1,429 kg
Ballast 1,050.00 lb / 476 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 187.00 ft² / 17.37 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Twin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Dennis Rayner
Builder Westerly Marine Construction Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1967
Last Built 1969
Number Built 267
Associations Westerly Owners Association
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
13.96
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
33.33
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
228.34
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
17.28
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
2.03
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.74 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
2.05
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 485.97 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 13.92
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 21.75 ft / 6.63 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.75 ft / 2.97 m
SA Fore 80.50 ft² / 7.48 m²
SA Main 106.03 ft² / 9.85 m²
SA Total (100%) 186.53 ft² / 17.33 m²
Est. Forestay Length 24.04 ft / 7.33 m
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